function prototype in PHP for user defined

backtrace

Are function prototypes alowed in PHP? If I call a user defined function above the definition I get an undefined function. If I place the function definition before I call it this problem is solved. In C/C++ we would put the prototypes in a header file, #include it, then we can put our definitions anywhere and call them from anywhere.

So I made my own prototype, and user defined function:

$string = $_POST['string'];
int check_length(string, int);   // prototype

echo "<br>".check_length($string);  // call it

function check_length($string, $max){  // user defined
echo "it is ".strlen($string)." characters long!";
if (strlen($string) > $max)
return false;
else return true;
}

An error is returned parse error, unexpected T_STRING the line it points to is my prototype. So seems it dont recognize my prototype or does not expect to see it.

Can someone help me with this.

I dont want to place the definition before I call it each time, thats messy, especialy if one functions calling another which calls the origional and so fourth...

Sugestions?

Pig

You have to define a function BEFORE you use it. That's how it is in PHP.

Usually everyone just creates a file called functions.php and puts them all in there. Include that at the beginning of the page, and the problem is solved.

backtrace

Well if thats the way its going to be then so be it. Thank you for your quick responce.

No problem I will just create a functions.php and include() it. Would have been nice to have function prototypes. Oh well.

laserlight

From the PHP manual:

In PHP 3, functions must be defined before they are referenced. No such requirement exists in PHP 4.

As such, there is no need for function prototypes, nor do you absolutely need to define functions before using them, so long as they are defined.

Pig

OMG... I feel so... out dated! Thank you LaserLight.